Device for repairing car-couplings.



J. ZILIUS. DEVICE POR RPAIRING GAR GOUPLINGS. APPLICATION FILED 1120.12,1912.

1,073,383, Patented Septf. 16,1913.

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JOHN ZIIiIU'S, 0F HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR RPAIRING CAIR,-COUIPLINGS.`

Lacasse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Sept. 16,1913.

Application led December 12, 1912. Serial No. 736,261.

To all whom may concern Y Be i known that I, JOHN ZiLrUs, a citizen .ofthe United States, residing at Huntingdon, in the county of Huntingdonand State 1 of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Repairing Car-Couplers; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it`Aappertains to make andV use the same.

This invention relates to a device for repairlng car couplers, anditmore particularl relates to an emerdenc re air cou ler `devicewhich isadapted for adjustment to tit draw-bars of different sizes.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device of thischaracter with an invertible slide element for holdingthe repair memberVor auxiliary `coupler-head` in xed position on the draw-bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide a repair element of thischaracter` which may be applied on coupler-heads of any of the standardmakes, even though said coupler-heads may be broken to such an extentthat only the middle portion thereof remains intact. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a repair member of thischaracter which will positively hold and support the brokencoupler-head, in case the draw-bar which carries the same should becomedisconnected from the car which carries it.

Another object of the invention is'toprovide a. device of thischaracterwhich may be interchangeably connected with all of theprincipal automatic couplers in use. l

A still further object is to provide` a device of this characterwhich'is of maximum strength,` consistent with minimum weight,`

and of maximum efficiency, consistent with minimum cost, and withalthoroughly etilcient. l

With these objects in view theinvention consists in the improvedconstruction, ar-y head having my improved repair head seat- V edthereon. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detailview, in elevation, of the slidable and invertible retaining yoke. Fig.5 is an end elevation view of the retaining yoke. Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3,

.having the yoke inverted, iitted to a drawbar of smaller cross section,and, Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of a spring cotter or key V .forretaining the wedge in its seat.

Referring to these drawings, in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts, throughout the several views; a brokendraw-head is `designated by the numeral 10, while the numeral 11designates a draw-bar of standard cross section, that is, live by seveninches. In Fig. 6, the draw-bar 12 is of another standard size, viz,live by live inches. lIhe repair head or auxiliary coupler-headcomprises the knuckle 13, the housing 111, the knuckle-chamber 15 andthe depending securing lugs 16.

The housing consists of a front wall 17, side walls 18 and 19, rear wall20 and cover 21. The'side walls 18 and 19 are provided withstrengthening ribs 22 and 23, respectively, while similar ribs 24 extendfrom front to back of the cover, and vertical strengthening ribs 25 areformed on the in ner side of the front wall. l

The knuckle-recess extends laterally between the knuckle 13 and thefront wall 17, and is adapted to receive a pivoted knuckle of anyordinary automatic coupler, while the outer surface of said front wallis forwardly and outwardly inclined so as t0 con- `the auxiliarycoupler-head and the draw-bar and head supported thereby from falling onthe railroad track, in case said draw-bar should become disconnectedfrom the car.

' r1`he housing 14 is suiiiciently capacious to accommodate the largestsize of draw-heads of ordinary automatic couplers, while the spaceYbetween the lugs 16 is sufficiently wide grooves 27. 1Within thegrooves 27 are seated the lugs or lateral extensions 29 of the yoke 30.This yoke is substantially U-shaped, and its sides or arms 31 areslotted at 32, between the lugs 29, while its medial bar is grooved at33. When the yoke 30 is placed in the position shown in Fig. 3, thedrawbar 11 tits snugly within the recess of the rear wall, while theyoke 30 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, and the wedge-key 35 isseated in the slots 23 and 32 and groove 34, so as to hold the yoke upagainst the draw-bar 11. However, when a small drawbar is to be fittedwith my improved auxiliary coupler-head, the yoke 30 is inverted, asshown in Fig. 6, so that the arms 31 embrace the draw-bar 12 and fillthe space between said draw-bar and the adjacent portions ot' the rearwall, and thereby prevent undue lateral movement of said draw-bar andsaid rear wall. The key 35 is provided with a plurality of apertures 36,into either of which the key 37 (see Fig. 7), may be inserted, so as tohold said key in adjusted position. The key preferably comprisessemicylindrical bars 38 having their adjacent ends connected by abow-spring 39, so that the bars 38 may be easily pressed intocontiguity, so as to be inserted through one of the holes 36, whereuponthe Abow-spring tends to force the bars 3S apart so as to bind them byfriction within the aperture.

It is well Vknown that automatic couplers of ordinary construction areeach provided with a vertical shoulder or abutment 40; and my auxiliarycoupler-head is therefore provided with the rear wall 20 of sufficientheight, above the draw-bar, to have :tull en-v gagement with theabutment 40, so that if any vof the abutment remains (not broken off),the rear wall 20 will engage with the abutment 40, while the yoke andwedge-key coperate with the lugs 16 for holding said rear wall and saidabutment in engagement.

In applying the device, the auxiliary head is lowered into position uponthe broken coupler-head, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the yoke 30 isthen placed with the lugs 29 in the grooves 27 and is slid up againstlthe draw-bar; it being understood that the yoke is placed inthe positionshown in Fig. 3 or in the position shown in Fig, 6,V according towhether the draw-bar vis iveby seven or five by ve inches in crossSection. The

wedge 35 is then placed in the slot 28 and in the slot 32 or groove 33,as in Figs. 3 and 6, respectively,l whereupon the key 37 is placed, asdescribed, for retaining the keyy inits adjusted position.

The cover 21 is provided with an aperture v 21 through which a' knucklelock maybe inserted, when the device is employedwith a coupler whichembodies such knuckle lock. p

From the foregoing, it will be seenthat I have provided an auxiliarycoupler-head or temporary repair device which is Jfully capable ofattaining the foregoing objects,

in a thoroughly practical and eliicient Inan-` j v8o ner. i Y

I do not limit my invention tofthe'exact details of construction,combination and ar-` rangement of parts, as herewith Villustratedr :i AA and described, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonablekinterpretation of the claims. y

I claim Y j 1. In a device for repairing carcouplers, an auxiliarycouplerhead comprising a housing having aV Jforwardly disposed knuckleVand having a recessed rear wallV with securing lugs depending therefromvand provided with vertical grooves in the depending lugs and rearwalls, said securing lugs `being provided with slots communicating withthe vertical grooves, and ayoke having lateral extensions adapted to beslid in the vertical grooves. and ,seated against the under side of adraw-bar of-an ordinary coupler, said yoke being provided `with slotsbetween said verticalgrooves, and a-wedgekey movably fitted in saidslots of the yoke and the depending lugs for securing the p yoke inadjusted position. l

2. In a device for repairing car couplers, an auxiliary coupler-headcomprising a forwardly disposed-knuckle and housing and having a rearwall adapted to engage with the vertical shoulder or abutment of'anordinary car coupler, securing Vlugs depending from the rear wall andhaving slots therethrough, a yoke having. slots tlfierethroughY ing lugsthereon, fa substantiallyU-shaped yoke adapted to be vinserted betweenthe dependinglugs in either upright or inverted position forretainingthe coupler-head in proper position relative to draw-barsV ofdifi erentsizes, and a wedge-key forlsecuring' the yoke in eitheradjusted position. Y 4. In a device for repairing car couplers, anauxlliary coupler-head ha-vnga rear Wall auxiliary coupler-head as thatof a larger 10 sized draw-bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specieation in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ZILIUS.

and having spaced lugs depending from the rear wall for receivingtherebetween coupler draw-hars of different sizes, and a substantiallyU-shaped yoke adapted to be fitted between the securing lugs in eitherof two alternative positions, so that the arms of the U-shaped yoke mayembrace the draw-bars of Witnesses: relatively small size for securingsaid draw- J. H. LANG, bar in the same position relative to the C. A;FINES.

Copies of this patent may `be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D.V C.

